The Gulf Oil Crisis- Why I Care
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The following article was written during the Gulf Oil spill of 2010. It was devastating to watch what happened to those who lost their lives, the families who suffered severe setbacks and loss of income. It was tragic and sad to see our waters and wildlife suffer from this horrific accident. It was and remains frustrating that BP continues to be negligent in their clean- up responsibilities and claim settlements. We can't forget what happened as it very easily could happen again. Stay informed.
It’s Day 59 or 60. I’ve lost count. All I know is that too many days have passed and the oil is still spewing into our waters, wildlife continues to die and suffer, marshes are tarred with this black gold, beaches and communities struggle with the clean-up. Families are afraid and angry. There doesn’t seem to be the organization and equipment that is needed to fight this giant. Sometimes I even wonder who cares, but I know there are many.
The Gulf of Mexico is home to not only marine and animal wildlife, but is home for generations of those who have grown up on the Gulf whose lifestyles are supported by this beautiful body of water. Many of us live here because we love the lifestyle and beauty it affords to us freely, each and every day. The sunsets are some of the most beautiful to be seen anywhere in the world, the warm waters lap at our feet as we stroll along the shoreline.
An Oil-drenched Pelican in Distress
Along the Florida coast, the water is so clear and light, it is pure pleasure to look out over its large body as the pelicans and gulls and egrets fly gracefully over in search of food. To watch a pelican dive into the water and scoop up a fish is one of those connections with nature that thrill everyone lucky enough to see it happen. Sometimes while boating or swimming in the waters, we see the friendly dolphins or gentle manatees. An elegant crane walks along the shore gobbling the tiny fish as they are washed up in a wave, her markings so perfect that no artist could capture this perfection.
Deepwater Horizon
The Nightmare in the Gulf
The destruction of the Deepwater Horizon is one of the most ominous scenes I have ever observed of a man made environmental disaster. The chilling accounts of those who were on the rig when it happened and lived to tell about it send shock waves throughout my body. I can’t imagine the horror they felt as their ‘home’ away from home went up in flames with enormous billows of black toxic smoke billowing towards the heavens, the flames hissing and roaring, alive like a sea monster raging from the depths of hell itself. In it’s rage, it took the lives of eleven men.
Days follow, nights dark as ink, only lit up by the starlit sky and the lights of sea vessels as they stand nearby. Poison now spreading on and under the surface of the waters, sea life alerted but defenseless if caught in the deathly clutch of it’s reach. Sea turtles washed ashore covered in the greed of mankind, struggling baby birds left to die too soon.
Where is the help? Why is it taking so long? Why are there no emergency plans ready to be engaged? We now know there were ‘warning’ signs flashing like huge red beacons across the water, saying,ARE YOU PREPARED?, DANGER, STOP DRILLING NOW, but they were ignored. There were too many shrill voices screaming, DRILL, BABY, DRILL. Big black gold had met her match, GREED. Who would win this battle? Who would bow down first and worship?
Humanity
Our own greed, our own need to consume energy like Pac- man gobbles up pac dots until the monsters finally gobble him up if he’s not smart enough to dodge their attacks. When the monster finally touches us, we lose a life. When there are no more lives left, the game is over. Will humanity in the end be consumed by it’s own greed?
Is the sleeping giant awakening? Did we require a gentle tap or do we need a rigorous shaking to wake us up from our sleep? I’m not referring to any political motives, simply asking, do we really understand what we’re doing? Do we not understand that when we turn on the lights that we may not need them? We can already see.
Margaret Mead, the great American anthropologist has said, A small group of thoughtful people could change the world. Indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has. Perhaps one plus one plus one, ad infinitum, can bring the resourceful energy changes that are now necessary in our world.
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I Care
The Gulf oil crisis affects everyone. Below in the comment box, if you wish, I would love to hear ways in which we can cut back on our
addiction to oil. It is so easy to point fingers at the oil companies, the contractors, and government for this crisis, and yet the problem belongs to all of us. It’s human nature to make a villain. This article is not politically focused. I am interested in how we as a collective human race can help conquer the consuming greed and addiction we have to oil. It is essential we look at alternative forms of energy while making sure off- shore drilling regulations are strictly enforced in the oil industry. I care about the Gulf oil crisis and I hope you do as well. rebekahELLE . 6-18-2010
"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. " Nelson Mandala
"There is a way that nature speaks, that land speaks. Most of the time we are simply not patient enough, quiet enough, to pay attention to the story." rebekah
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I have a sadness in my soul for these creatures dying.. because of this massive spill.. if there were a way I would help to save as many as I could.. May God hear our prayers for this.. Great hub!
thank you Darlene and seraphim for your comments. I really do appreciate your reading and leaving a heart felt comment.
The devastation in the Gulf as a result of the B P Oil Spill moves my heart as well. The loss to wildlife is something that I find difficult to fully comprehend and take in. I feel compelled to ask for prayers for all being affected by this tragedy. As I was writing this, I realized this must include the individuals who are involved with B P as well. Even as the corporation is held fully accountable, the individuals must be forgiven too.
Peace
I think that we humans have to realise that we can potentially start chains of tragic events, that once they have started we might not necessarily be able to stop or put right the consequences. All nations need to look at cutting back on the energy they use and what other forms of sustainable energy can be developed. Even simple things like walking the kids to school, turning the heating down a few degrees, and turning off lights can make a huge difference when multipled by millions.
We all live on the same planet, so damage to any part of it affects us all, and all parties who can and are able need to do whatever it takes to stop the oil flowing and then get it cleaned up.
What happened in the Gulf totally breaks my heart, but things like that can happen in any industry (remember Chernobyl?) - so I disagree that solution should be 'stop drilling offshore totally'. The oil company should have to know how to fix the problem like that fast and as painlessly as possible. And the government (in this particular case current American administration) should push and support them to do so. The ignorance of current American administration in this catastrophe breaks my heart even more than inability of BP to fix the problem.
thank you davidisaiah for your comment. it is heartbreaking and I do agree that comprehending the suffering of the wildlife is difficult. I would like to see more cooperation and less blame. It's not relevant at this point. I appreciate your compassionate words.
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I still don't undestand how these poeple can undertake such drilling without having a solution ready in case he worst happen!
thank you cmhypno for reading and commenting. I couldn't agree with you more. there is at some point a moment when we all must take responsibility for how we live on our planet. simple changes as you suggest are easily adapted into our lifestyle and children should be taught from an early age how to conserve energy and water. hopefully we can take these lessons and become involved in solutions.
wanderlust, thanks for commenting. I don't see off-shore drilling going away any time soon, but obviously more stringent restrictions and regulations must be put in place and enforced.
I appreciate both of your comments, thank you.
rebekah it is avery sad time for the Gulf Coast for the marine life for the marshlands for the economy --- the list goes on. You have presented the crisis very well here. I came to your hub after comments you left on one of mine about not understanding the damage. I think the damage actually is way understated. What I am dead against is people like the Florida AG and others politically grand standing rather than fixing the problem. I also don't trust politician to get the money to the right people, do you? I also replied to your comments over on my hub. Keep up the great writing and may this oil crisis see some positive action soon please!
degreek, thank you for reading. I'm not sure any of us understand how these mega oil companies do not have plans in place. Exxon also confessed they do not have plans to handle a disaster of this proportion. That said, I'm not certain there are enough restrictions on where deep water drilling can take place. We are playing with the unknown when we go into the deep layers of the ocean floor.
billyaustin, thanks for stopping by and reading. I appreciate your comments. yes, we all have questions with no answers. not wanting to focus on the political aspects here, I can only say I am saddened and deeply distressed with the response so far. I do believe that the public needs to stay informed and make positive contributions in whatever way possible.
I live 50 miles from the Gulf Coast in Louisiana. We were periodicaly informed that this relativly new deep water drilling was just as safe as other types of drilling.
The safety measures for this type of disaster evedently was untested.
I lay blame on myself for relying on tax revenew with a gamble on safe drilling.
I personaly knew it was a gamble but with a knowledge of how stringent saftey standards applied properly, could have deterred this accident and BP and only BP is to blame.
If you want to come down here and clean off some birds your more than welcome...
mentalist, thanks for your comments and I understand your frustration. I do think that unless someone lives in a directly affected region or near one, it's hard to comprehend the way it affects us. I'm not certain I can say that anything else has affected me the way this does, the uncertainty. I live 7 miles from the coast. Not a day passes that it does not cross my mind that a monster is near. we may have our own birds to clean soon enough. hopefully, somehow, the coasts can be protected.
my heart to you and your state.
Thank you for creating additional awareness to his horrific event. The photos are so sad. We as Americans can only blame ourselves for not supporting true environmental responsibility sooner. This is not the first tragic oil spill. It will not be the last unless we demand clean energy now and support regulation for alternative products for all petroleum products. I can't believe that even this week, the Senate is trying to undermine the Clean Air Act, overturning science in favor of political considerations. Unbelievable that the EPA is under attack.
The media has been kept away from the area becauae it is turning out to be a bigger disaster then reported and the oil company is trying to cover it up.The chemicals that they are spraying to get the plumes to submerge will eventually be in the rainclouds and tornados and rain down on the U.S. What a mess.
thanks GL for reading. I agree with you completely. Energy alternatives should not be a partisan issue. I hope with all the news coming out of Washington today that the focus is not lost on this disaster in the Gulf and the continuing gush of toxic oil and disperants that are blasting into our waters.
Dan, thanks for reading and commenting. I have heard that about the rain and possible effects from hurricanes. I would like to see what a former Shell Oil executive proposed about fighting this spill in proportion to scale. We need barges protecting the shore lines. It's a huge disaster and needs proportional defense/clean up strategies in place now.
Rebekah, I too am deeply saddened at what we humans are doing to our world. And, I too get sick of the blame game. Sometimes, however, to fix a problem we have to know who did it and how it started. But, at this point, I don't care who is to blame, just fix it. Use all of our scientists, resources, what ever it takes. I have written several articles on this athttp://www.associatedcontent.com/article/2979130/u
Watching what that oil is doing to our environment hurts and I think most people care. It is an awful disaster.
One definition of insanity is to do the same thing over and over and expect a different result. We are treating the planet like we have another planet to move to when we exhaust this one. Change is not easy but change we must before it is too late.
Excellent - very well written rebekahELLE! Pointing out that each of us must own it is huge. We are all response-able to effect change. It is energy and with some new bio-energy products just released here in the N America, that are able to remind cells of that core energy source thereby quickly triggering natural, inherent in all, healing once again, I and many others are not afraid of our light and power (delivered in a speech by Marianne Williamson originally). We are heading down there en-masse Sept. 19 to effect positive change. This is not a commercial, only to share a little hope one small group is planning that I know will make a huge difference. Arrived here due to our new fb connection. Thank you for that - I look forward to reading more. You are a wonderful author!
thanks Pamela, I do hope most people care. sometimes when there are crisis events, people care at first and then forget about it. I hope that is not the case with this terrible tragedy.
GNelson, that sounds like a rather appropriate quote in regard to insanity. you've got it right that changes are necessary, now. thanks for reading!
thank you SemPro! nice to meet you! that's interesting what you're talking about concerning energy. that's great news about your group traveling to effect positive change. There is power in even one small group of people.
thank you for your compliments as well! :)
hubbers
A judge ruled that President Obama's moratorium was not legal and ordered the moratorium lifted. The president ran on fixing the economy and getting jobs.The moratorium would have eliminated some 65,000 JOBS and a huge loss of business, revenue income to states and the us treasury. Something is wrong in the whitehouse.
It was reported today that drilling in the gulf has been going on for 60 years. Some 50,000 wells have been drilled . Some in deeper water that the deepwater horizon.
THERE ARE 33 RIGS DRILLING FOR OIL, ALL HAVE BEEN INSPECTED AND PASSED GOVERNMENT INSPECTIONS
The safety factor of 98.9% is where the record stands.
The president is way over his head in the matter and his incompetence, inexperience and arrogance has surfaced.
Shamefully he has decided to fight the federal judge's decision and his decision to file another moratorium is irresponsible.
Check it out, foxnews.com 6/21/10 Glen Beck expose of The connections and reasons why Obama has pushed to hurt the us economy.
You're welcome to comment although this is not a politically focused hub. I think it's rather obvious that rigs that have been inspected were being inspected by the oil companies themselves. There are countless violations. It needs to be more thoroughly investigated.
Look, the oil is still gushing. Oil is coming ashore now.
Hopefully the focus will be on containing the one that is gushing now and defending our coasts. Sorry Jon, I don't get my news from foxnews. Thanks for reading.
omg i can hardly bear to see these pictures anymore. it makes me angry and sad and disgusted at the people who let this happen. and now it won't be until august that it will be contained - maybe. that herman melville quotation certainly fits. bless those creatures and if they suffer i hope their suffering passes quickly and the ones that are ok may their homes be restored but even as i type this i know that just wont be the case :(
rating this UP. thank you for talking about it.
The one thing that gives me a good feeling is that we are in control. People can start making conscious decisions. I only hope enough people act on these feelings. This absolute horror of a tragedy in the Gulf should be a wake up call that get's everyone's attention and jump starts clean legislation, conservation practices, and safer regulations.
thanks cosette and LRC, I know it's hard, but I feel it's important to keep the reality alive of what is taking place in our waters. as LRC says, it's the people who will make a difference and we need to be and stay involved. I just don't understand the clean-up efforts.
on Saturday June 26 at 11 a.m., Floridians are meeting at the Dunedin Causeway and Howard Park in Tarpon Springs to join hands and hearts in protecting our coastal shores. donations will be accepted for the Clearwater Marine Aquarium where birds and wildlife are being treated from the oil spill. If anyone can join us, come on out and show support. Wherever you are in the world, maybe you'll think of us at that time. Youtube videos will be made of the event.
thanks so much for your comments!
Hands Across the Sand is meeting on Florida beaches tomorrow beginning at 11 A.M. It is a way to get involved. Even if you don't live near a beach, the link supplies info on how you can get involved. http://handsacrossthesand.org/organize.php?state=F
We need to save our beaches.
This was a very well written piece. I think the level of frustration over this situation is unmatched by any other disaster I can think of. Including Katrina. If there is a bright side (which there always is if one looks hard enough), it is that other forms of energy will be explored more vigorously. Alcohol made from corn can already be burned in many flex-fuel vehicles that are already on the road. Nuclear energy is another safe alternative that has been demonized unjustly. The fact is, we HAVE to have energy to live, unless we want to move back into caves. And every form of energy has it's downside. We just need to pursue the forms of energy that are the most economically and environmentally feasable. The politics of energy corrupts the whole process. Perhaps this spill will turn the tide, so to speak, no pun intended. Great, thought-provoking hub!
It sickens me to see those poor sea animals drenched in oil. So sad! And all the livelihoods that have now been lost and for who knows how long a time...terrible! Heaven forbid that a hurricane mixes into all of this!
Very beautiful hub. Your words are heartfelt and the use of your pictures just add to the impact of your words. The video in the middle of the piece was very, very moving. I am watching more programs about energy saving habits, I can develop as a citizen. I have always tried to limit my use of electricity by lowering or raising the temp.in my home according to the season. I recycle as much as I can including finding families that need my clothing , toys , etc. I even recycle magazines by taking my most recently read ones to a lab where I go on a regular basis .
thanks Stan. It's hard to find the silver lining in this disaster, but yes, I believe also we have no choice than to seriously pursue alternative, sustainable forms of energy. The problem is greed and the lust for the liquid black gold. I think it will be a long, tough fight to make it happen, but it's the people who have the power and we must use it. thanks for coming by. :]
Thanks Peggy and fetty for reading and leaving your heart-filled comments. It really is very sad and I think it will only get worse before it gets better and I am a very optimistic person. We simply need to make our voices heard and take action. fetty, you're right about recycling and giving away what you don't use. I think it becomes a state of mind to live that way, to truly care about our environment and be conscious of our actions. Even actions as simple as not using plastic containers or paper plates can save energy. Thanks for caring.
rebekahELLE
YOUR COMMENTS ARE APPRECIATED, THANKS
NOTE THAT C-SPAN, OUR LOCAL NEWSPAPERS AND OTHER SOURCES ARE INFORMATIVE.
Until we break our dependence on oil this will continue. We have been talking about it for years but as you can see you just have to follow (the money trail) GO GREEN
What an useful article on today environmental crisis, thank your Rebeka and big thank you for visiting me and spending time with my hubs...love from Beata
I cannot believe that they haven't stopped the oil by now, we can put man on the moon but can't stop a leak, go figure. Great Hub.
Awesome hub. We love the gulf - especially the Redneck Riviera and the Anna Maria Island area, and it just breaks my heart that these beautiful places might be ruined...forever. And the poor creatures that are suffering and dying because of man - so sad.
thanks Jon, Ginn, Beata and paul for your comments and for taking time to read this hub. paul, I can't believe it also and the more days that pass give reason to ask serious questions about why there aren't more containment barges blocking the coastal areas which have been offered from other countries. many other questions also we have a right to be asking. thanks for your input!
Thanks for inspiring hub. I think we all have to concern about environment. Although it not happen near our area or in our country. But gulf oil crisis also happen in the same earth with us. But the good way is send attention to this problem. Let's pray together, this problem will end soon. And the habitat back to normal. I so sad to see the picture above. Great topic, Rebekah.
prasetio
Rebekah,
As you know this hits close to home for me because I'm in the tourism industry. You ask "how long will we wait?" We have no choice but to wait as long as it takes to fix and clean up. Those of us in the Tampa area are no where near as bad off as those in Louisiana. My cousin's husband's family owns a seafood market, a couple of shrimp boats and a couple of fishing boats. THEY are hurting. They're entire livelihood comes from the sea, from the Gulf. We rely on it for relaxation. They rely on it to pay their bills.
Someone commented on one of my oil spill hubs about the '79 Mexican oil spill. The relief wells that were supposed to take 3 months to drill took 10 months and that was in much shallower water. We have a VERY long road ahead of us, all of us in the Gulf states. We WILL recover. We WILL survive. The wildlife WILL survive. It's fleeing even now, with more stingrays and fish in our area than in the Louisiana and Alabama areas. They will protect themselves. But still, we MUST do what we can to make sure that there is better oversight in the future and that eventually we don't have to rely on our offshore oil reserves.
thanks your prasetio for your warm words of encouragement and care. I always love to read your comments as they are always caring and wise. very much appreciated!
hi cv, thanks for coming by and reading. when I say 'we', I refer to all of us, not just those of us in this area.
it was more a journal entry when I wrote it, then I decided to make it a hub. I can only begin to imagine how deeply it affects those in Louisiana. I think we feel it 'collectively', not just locally but even globally. we do have a long road ahead of us, much longer than we know. I have noticed that there are also many more birds here, or is it my imagination? I hope your cousins family will receive the support they need!
thanks again for sharing!
A stuning expose' on the oil spill problem. People caring and writing keeps up the pressure for solution to the BP oil spill and hopefully action that will prevent future spills.
The oil spill is a stunning, mind-warping unnatural disaster. The havoc and destruction to the oceans and the ocean communities is horrifying. Thanks for sharing.
we can never stop bringing awareness to this crisis. thanks world-traveler. thanks for reading. please feel free to share with others.
thank you wannabwestern for reading. It's now placed to the side as the media has restrictions on how close they can film and photograph while the oil is still gushing who knows how much oil into our waters.
We can clean and clean and clean and the dam spill keeps on pouring more and more into sea. Whats taking them so long? Has any one seen the cap footage. I didn't see a rocket science behind it. It took them 3 months to figure out a giant test tube. Now the problem is with valves. Hey sparky you have got the wrong valve, this one says made in China. Go get the made in Taiwan version...
well, today is day 107, I believe. The static kill procedure is in place and this has stopped the leak. there is still oil in that water, don't let them fool you, but it is good news TODAY and thankfully, we can give a sigh of relief.
Just came across this Hub, rebekahELLE. I appreciated it for its heartfelt quality.
Thank goodness the first stage is over now; but who knows how long the cleanup will take?
Anyway, I've linked to this Hub at one of mine; you can check it out at this address:
http://hubpages.com/hub/Crystal-Waters-A-Meditatio
Of course, I'll take the link down if you don't approve!
Again, thanks for a most sincere and moving Hub.
thanks Doc! yes, we continue to follow this closely. we realize all of this oil and dispersants did not just disappear. I did read your link also and it's very real and authentic. I believe it's important that our feelings and stories are recorded of this man-made tragedy and that we don't forget what caused it in the first place. I've read recently that BP wants to go back to the same oil reservoir and drill..
Wonderful hub with wonderful photos-- clearly written from the heart. The well may be plugged, but the damage is far from repaired. This is a real wake up call for us all.
thanks robie. a lot of recovery still needs to take place. it's too easy to be complacent and yet there remains dangerous risks to our seafood.
I hope this hub opens a lot of people's eyes to what can happen when these oil rigs aren't checked for safety on a regular basic. Great hub by the way :)
Jean-Michel Cousteau on the Gulf Oil Disaster
Inspiration Quotes
"Each time a person stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring, these ripples build a current that can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance." - Robert F. Kennedy
"Politics is the art of controlling your environment." - Hunter S. Thompson
"Few is the number who think with their own minds and feel with their own hearts." - Albert Einstein
"We cannot live for ourselves alone. Our lives are connected by a thousand invisible threads, and along these sympathetic fibers, our actions run as causes and return to us as results." - Herman Melville
"Freedom is not merely the opportunity to do as one pleases; neither is it merely the opportunity to choose between set alternatives. Freedom is, first of all, the chance to formulate the available choices, to argue over them - and then, the opportunity to choose." - C. Wright Mills
"In the middle of every difficulty lies opportunity." - Albert Einstein
Additiona Gulf Oil Crisis Information
- Louisiana coastal restoration forecast: An editorial | NOLA.com
Protecting and restoring Louisiana's coast is an urgent priority for this state, and the draft plan for fiscal year 2013 that was presented this week to the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority reflects the large scope of work - Judge says Transocean will be shielded from paying pollution claims | NOLA.com
BP must pay any damage claims that third parties bring against Transocean, the owner of the ill-fated Deepwater Horizon rig, for pollution below the surface of the Gulf of Mexico, a federal judge in New Orleans ruled. U.S. District Court Judge Carl B - BP Loses Bid to Shift $15B in Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill Costs
Oil giant BP has lost its attempt to shift over $15 billion of costs related to the Gulf of Mexico oil spill onto contractor Transocean, increasing the possibility BP may have to foot the entire $42 billion clean up bill. - Effects from gulf oil spill far from over, experts say - St. Petersburg Times
Independent scientists scoff at report, say effects will last years. - Lapses Found in Oversight of Failsafe Device on Oil Rig
It was the last line of defense, the final barrier between the rushing volcanic fury of oil and gas ...
What We Didn't See On The News
Darlene Sabella 20 months ago
Oh it hurts so bad, my heart is breaker ever so much, I know why you care, we love Earth, and others do thinks that shock us all, we are at the mercy of this fate, I only pray that many that can, well go down to help on efforts to wash and clean the creatures. Rate up, fantastic hub